Ecologists to estimate pollution of East Kazakhstan rivers with cyanides within 10 days

Analyses of samples from Sekissovka and Uba rivers polluted by industrial wastes containing cyanides from Sekissovskoye gold mine, as well calculations of the volume of dumped wastes will be completed within 10 days, KazTAG reports citing acting deputy head of Irtysh Ecology Department Kanapiy Bokhayev.

“Starting from November 2 (on the 4th day after the accident) we were working with KazHydroMet and took samples. The analyses results will show the impact (of the pollution) on the rivers. We have requested certificates for underground miner pumps. We will use them to make calculations of the volumes of wastes dumped on the soil and in the water. We will have all the works completed within 10 days,” Bokhayev said.

According to him, the samples were taken only from the Sekissovka and Uba rivers to Shemonaikha town. Monitoring of the Irtysh river, normally made by KazHydromet weather service, did not show any water pollution by cyanides yet. “I think the pollution will not get to Russia; it will not even reach Irtysh,” Bokhayev expressed his opinion.

Meanwhile, answering the question on where Emergency Situations Ministry got the information on the Sekissovka river containing 516 maximum permissible concentrations of cyanides, Bokhayev noted that he “doesn’t know where it’s coming from”. “We have no grounds for such numbers. We need time for analyses to get such information. There is no information yet, but someone says 516 timed the maxium permissible concentration. This should be a certified laboratory that will give substantiation for its conclusions,” Bokhayev said.

Meanwhile, cyanide was excluded from the list of ingredients allowed for defining by laboratories of East Kazakhstan as per the respective government decree. “This decree was signed in May and this ingredient was excluded. Our laboratories can define it, but we cannot use this information without certification. We will not be able to penalize for losses after pollution with cyanides,” he said.